Karamana is a river flowing through the city of Thiruvananthapuram in
Kerala, India. The river starts near the southern tip of the Western
Ghats(Sahyadri Mountains) at Agastyar Koodam. The river flows 66 km
westward and merges with the Arabian Sea at Panathura near Kovalam. The
river gets its name from Karamana, a suburb of Thiruvananthapuram city,
through which it flows. The catchment area is mostly forested, command area
is under mixed dry land crops such as coconut, tapioca, pepper, plantain,
rice, etc. Residents along the KARA (MANAI HOLDERS) WERE KARMANAS. We sold
our property in the puthen st long ago though our relation Banker Ramasamy
lived long enough. River culture was bharatha culture.
Karanamana initially flows through the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
and into the Peppara reservoir. It then flows through several hilly eastern
towns of Thiruvananthapuram district namely, Meenankal, Cherappally,
Utharamcode, Aryanad, Uzhamalackal, Mundela, Perumkulam and Aruvikkara. The
Aruvikkara dam is built across the Karamana river at Aruvikkara. Downstream
the river enters the Travancore plains and passes towns like Irumpa,
Nettayamam, Peyad, Karimankulam, Perukavu, Vilavoorkkal, Choozhattukotta,
Pappanamcode, Nemom and Thiruvallam. At Thiruvallam, the Karamana river
divides into two distributaries. The northern distributary empties into the
Arabian Sea near Poonthura and the southern distributary flows into the
Pozhikkara estuary. The Edayar Island is situated between the two
distributaries. The Karamana rises in the vicinity of the Agasthiarkoodam
about 1600 m above the sea level. The peaks of origin of the river are
today known as Chemmunji Motta and Aathiramala and its upper tributary
rivers are the Kaaviyaar, Attayaar, Vaiyappadyaar and Thodayaar. The river
flows for 66 kilometers in a south - southwest direction before flowing
into the Arabian Sea. The largest tributary of the Karamana is the
Killiyar, which flows for a distance of 24 kilometres. It has five anicuts
on it which regulates the flow of water. Part of the water was diverted
into the Kochar channel which in turn fed the Pathrakulam pond (no longer
exists) adjacent to current Padmatheertha Kulam outside the Padmanabhaswamy
Temple. There are several temples located along the Killiyar's banks, the
most famous of which is the Attukal Temple. The Killiyar drains the
Nedumangad forest and its basin is rich in avian fauna.Killiyar merges with
Karamana river at Pallathukadavu near Thiruvallam.Karamana river merges
with the Arabian Sea through the Pozhikkara estuary. In its final lap, the
river runs parallel to the sea and the river here is known as the Edayar.
The Karamana has been facing the problems of pollution,
acidification and fish kill in recent years. The causes for the
deterioration in the river's water quality include the discharge of
untreated sewage and domestic and industrial effluents into the river and
the unregulated development of tourism in the river basin area. This has
resulted in the lowering of dissolved oxygen levels in the river's water
and caused fish kill downstream of the river. Illegal mining of river sand
is another significant threat being faced by the river. AS BRAHMINS
DWINDLED THE RIVER IS ALSO POLLUTED LIKE SAIDAPET RIVER
The beauty of the Karamana and the fact that it wound through forests
earned the river the name Vanamala, the garland of the forest, in Sanskrit.
It is referred to as the ‘Makaraakara’ river in the Jain ascetic Udyodana
Suri's 8th century Prakrit text Kuvalayamaala. The Karamana river also
closely influenced the development of music in Kerala. Some of the singers,
instrumentalists and composers who are associated with the river include
Irayimman Thampi, Vadivelu, Neelakanta Sivan and K S Chitra. Besides, the
composer-king Swathi Thirunal was also influenced by the river's scenic
beauty. Over a dozen of his court musicians hailed from the Karamana
village on the banks of the river. VIDE MY KERALA HISTORY.
K Rajaram IRS 20125
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2025 at 07:55
Subject: [iyer123] SREE GOMATHYAMBA SAMETHA SREE SATHYAVAGEESWARA SWAMY
TEMPLE
To: Iyer <[email protected]>
*SREE GOMATHYAMBA SAMETHA SREE SATHYAVAGEESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE*
KARAMANA , TRIVANDRUM.
Dear friends,
Today my posting is about the Siva temple( short name) at Karamana,
Trivandrum. My residence quarters was about 1 KM away from the temple while
working at Trivandrum for 13 years. The temple is in the gramam close to
Bathing Ghat at Karamana river. While I was at Trivandrum I positively
attended Upakarmam on the river banks and later visiting the temple.
My sasthrikal was from Karamana gramam.
My daughter in law’s periappa who retired as chief Engineer from KSEB was
a resident of the gramam in own agraharam home. Hope a divine reading.
Gopalakrishnan 20-1-2025.
Community of Tamil Brahmins
The Karamana Grama Brahmana Samudayam, is centuries old social community of
the Tamil Brahmin Community of Karamana comprising Brahmin settlements
spread over eighteen streets, now further expanded into peripheral area
too. The Samudayam has an illustrious history and legacy and manages the
centuries old famous Sree Gomathyamba Sametha Sree Sathyavageeswara Swamy
temple, the presiding deities of the Gramam.
About the temple
The temple situates in the midst of Karamana Agraharam. Lord Shiva is the
main deity, and is worshipped as *Sathyavageeswara, which means proponent
of truth*. With Goddess Parvathy, reverred as Gomathyambal and also Avudai
Ambal. The temple is one of Shiva Parivar (family of Lord Shiva) consists
the deities of Lord Ganesa, Lord Subramanya and Lord Ayyappa and the
Nandikeswara, the bull in all splendor guards the temple entrance.
Legend
The centuries old temple has its legend that Kharan who was a devout
Shivabaktha had performed the “prathista” of the Shivalinga on the banks of
Vanamala river which is now known as Karamana river.
The temple over a period of time grew in prominence became a centre of
vedic tradition and religious activities. The temple had only the prathista
of Shivling. As the villagers got affected by frequent fire carnage, the
villagers conducted ‘Deva Prasnam’ in which it was revealed that Lord Shiva
needs a consort and one Devi Idol is lying in the pond of Madurai Meenakshi
Temple. The Devi Idol was brought in palanquin on the shoulders of devout
bhakthas (the palanquin bamboo is still kept at the temple). On installing
the Devi, Lord Shiva was satiated and became benevolent. The temple is the
life breath of the village.
It is believed that the name of the place came to be called as *Khara-mana
now spelt as Karamana*. Later Brahmin settlements came up with the Maharaja
of Travancore, who took initiative to attract Vedic scholars from Tamilnadu
to the capital city of Thirvananthapuram gifted lands for setting up homes
for them.
At present
Now the devotees of Karamana Gramam throng the temple in the morning and
evening. Due to the benevolence of Siva Parivar, every family in the
village is leading a satisfied and peaceful life.
*All the Original Tamil Brahmin settlers of Karamana Agraharam forms the
Karamana Grama Samudayam members*. From these members, the President,
Secretary And Treasurers are elected along with Executive Members From Each
Street.The apex decision making body of the Samudayam is the KGS Executive
Committee.
Address of the temple and contact number
Lord Siva temple,
Karamana Thiruvanthapuram 695002
0471-2345667
[email protected]
[email protected]
Festivals
Thaipoosam ,sivarathri ,navarathri, kanda shashti and Pankuni Uthram are
celebrated in the temple.
A compilation about the temple by P.R.Ramachander
The Karamana Temple is situated in the middle of Karamana Agraharam of
Trivandrum. It is believed that sage Khara consecrated the Shiva idol
on the Karamana river bank( once called Vanamala river) facing south and
worshipped it, he called it SAthya Vagheeswaran (God who protects truth)
.Since it was place where Khara lived , it was called “khara mana” and
later it became kara mana
Over years the place attracted lot of Vedic Scholars who started
living around the temple . They were once attacked by epidemics and “deva
prasna(questioning god) “ revealed that they have to consecrate a
goddess also in this temple. One of them got a dream that the statue of
the Goddess is available in the Madhura temple pond. The villagers went
to Madhura Temple and searched in the pond and got a devi statute. *It
seems it was a rejected statute of Madurai temple and they called it
“aavudai amman*” . That Devi Idol was brought in palanquin on the
shoulders of devout bhakthas (the palanquin bamboo is still kept at the
temple).This goddess was consecrated in the same room as Lord Shiva.,
towards his left side This is extremely rare phenomena .
*In most of the Shiva temples , if Amman is there she is consecrated in
a separate temple*
Though the goddesx is referred to as Avudayamman , she is also called Madhura
Meenakshi as well as Gomathi Amman and the temple is known as Sri
Gomathyamba SAmedha Sathya Vagheeswara temple.
After the consecration of the Goddess , the village became prosperous and
the Travancore king of those days presented land around the temple to
Tamil speaking Brahmins
The temple also has huge Nandi made of one stone as well as sub temples
for Lord subrahmanya , Lord Ganesa and Lord Ayyappa. There is a trange
practice of ringing bells before opening the temple
The most important festival in the Temple is Thai posam (12 days) During
which there is procession of Amman and Theethavari), Nava Rathri ,
Akshaya trithiya, Skanda sashti , Vinaya chathurthi etc. There is
puspabhishekam to the God Shiva in month of Makaram
Opening time
The temple is open from 5.15 Am to 11.30 Am, and 5.30 Pm to 8.45 Pm
The temple can be contacted by telephone 0471-2345667
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